Hidimba Temple

About Hidimba Temple:

• Hadimba Temple, locally known as Dhungari Temple, also known variously as the Hadimba Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
• It is dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, wife of Bhima, a figure in the epic Mahabharata.
• The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest called Dhungiri Van Vihar at the foot of the Himalayas.
• It was built in 1553 during the reign of Kullu ruler Bahadur Singh, who ruled from 1546 to 1569.
• Architecture:
  • The temple is one of the few temples in India that follows a Pagoda style of architecture, which is common in Nepal and Tibet.
  • It has a unique wooden structure and a four-tiered roof with intricate carvings.
  • The roof is made of deodar wood, which is resistant to insects and decay.
  • The temple has intricate carvings on its wooden walls, doors, and windows.
  • The carvings depict various animals, plants, dancers, musicians, and scenes from the Mahabharata epic.
  • An enormous rock occupies the inside of the temple, with a tall brass image representing goddess Hidimba Devi.